5 Big Energy Stories - 4.20.2026: Here We Go Again
Oil markets surged as the Strait of Hormuz repeatedly opened and closed, pushing Brent crude into the mid‑$90s and WTI back into the high $80s. President Trump’s mixed signals—promising a cease‑fire with Iran while threatening to destroy its power infrastructure—added to the uncertainty. Analysts now view a more plausible U.S. operation targeting Iran’s strategic Kharg Island and IRGC forces as the likely catalyst for continued price swings. The author predicts this volatility will linger for weeks, if not months.
President Trump Says Gas Prices ‘Not Very High’
President Donald Trump told reporters that current gasoline prices are “not very high,” even as U.S. drivers face an average increase of more than $1 per gallon—a roughly 33% jump since the Iran‑related conflict began. A recent CBS poll shows...
Maybe It Wasn’t Such a Hot Idea to Turn Libya Into a Failed State: 2026 Shortages Edition
Europe faces imminent jet‑fuel shortages as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, forcing the bloc to look again at North African supplies. Libya, once a reliable source of 1.65 million barrels per day of light crude and sizable gas exports, has...
Hormuz: No Longer a Shipping Lane
The Strait of Hormuz, once a predictable conduit for global oil, is now a contested battlefield. Recent missile strikes have turned commercial vessels into direct targets, and Iranian‑aligned forces are enforcing control with military force. This structural shift has slowed...
CATL to Unveil Sodium Battery and Fast-Charging Tech at Apr 21 Tech Day
China's battery giant CATL announced its most technology‑dense launch event for April 21, where it will unveil sodium‑ion batteries, condensed‑cell formats, and next‑generation fast‑charging solutions. The sodium‑ion cells retain 90% of capacity at –40 °C and are slated for a joint vehicle...
Petrobras (PBR) Upgraded at BofA Amid Higher Oil Prices
Bank of America upgraded Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) from Neutral to Buy on April 17, raising its price target from $18.70 to $24.80 – a upside of more than 21% at current levels. The move reflects BofA’s higher oil‑price assumptions amid the...
Monday’s Headlines Should Wean Themselves Off Fossil Fuels
The United States’ dependence on diesel for freight has translated into a $71 annual cost per household after Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, even for non‑diesel drivers. Meanwhile, higher gasoline prices are being partially offset by stricter fuel‑efficiency...
Using Today’s Futures, Don’t Expect Gasoline Prices to Soon Return to Antebellum Levels*
The article uses a log‑difference regression linking Brent futures to regular gasoline prices, finding a conditional forecast that gasoline will stay above pre‑conflict levels. The model (1990‑2026) explains 56% of price movements, but the author warns that futures have underperformed...
Confidence in Carney’s Pipeline Promise Sinks: Energy Industry Survey
A new ATB Cormark Capital Markets survey shows confidence that a new Canadian oil pipeline will receive fast‑track federal approval has slipped to 46%, down from 52% a year earlier. At the same time, belief that the Liberal government will...
Washington's Renewed Russian Oil Sanctions Waiver Will Help Their Shared Indian Partner
The U.S. Treasury Department renewed its waiver on Russian oil sanctions, allowing India to continue importing Russian crude for another month. India’s purchases jumped to roughly 1.98 million barrels per day in March, bolstering its 6.5% GDP growth trajectory. The move...
Proposed Solar Project Could Convert over 800 Acres of Farmland in Rural Michigan
DTE Energy has filed a proposal for a large‑scale solar farm in Ingersoll Township, Midland County, that could cover 600 to 800 acres of privately owned farmland. The development is slated to produce up to 129 megawatts, enough to power...
Prediction Markets on Hormuz Strait and June Brent Futures: 6:30PM ET
Prediction‑market platform Kalshi shows the probability of normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by May 15 slipping to 37 %, down from earlier optimism. The market also priced a 5.9 % jump in June Brent crude futures, reflecting heightened geopolitical tension. The...
200 Bidirectional EV Chargers To Be Used In Trial
Sweden’s state‑owned utility Vattenfall, together with Energy Bank and Volkswagen, will deploy 200 bidirectional electric‑vehicle chargers as a pilot. The chargers can both charge EVs and discharge stored energy back to the grid, creating a distributed virtual power plant. If...
Nippon Express, Nikon Renew SAF Air Cargo Agreement
Nippon Express and Nikon have renewed their sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) agreement for air cargo, extending the partnership from May through December 2025. The deal leverages Nippon Express’s NX‑GREEN SAF Program to generate CO₂ reduction certificates for Nikon’s shipments, directly...
Asian Marco Initial Thoughts: Things to Know Before Trading Asia on Monday. If the Straits of Hormuz Are Closed Markets...
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is closed after three tankers were attacked, reigniting fears of an energy shock in Asia. The closure, coupled with North Korea’s missile launches, is expected to push Asian equity markets lower on Monday unless...
February 9, 2016
On February 9, 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency stay halting the Clean Power Plan, a move that surprised many observers because it was the first time the Court granted a stay while a case was pending. Justice Anton Scalia cast...
The Strait Tightens Again
Iran has again restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil. The move follows Washington’s decision to keep its blockade of Iranian ports in place, escalating the long‑standing U.S.–Iran standoff....
From Friday High Fives to Monday Morning Blues ?
A sharp oil rally over the weekend was driven more by trader positioning and flow dynamics than by any genuine improvement in fundamentals. The sudden shift from an open to a threatened Strait of Hormuz forced the market to price...
Senate Bill Wants Commercial Reactors On Federal Land
Senators Mike Lee and Dave McCormick introduced the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Deployment Act (NEIDA) on April 14, 2026, proposing that the Department of Energy (DOE) be authorized to license and regulate commercial nuclear reactors and fuel‑cycle facilities located on...
Victory Lap to Crisis: Trump’s Hormuz Claim Backfires Almost Instantly
President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz "open" after Iran’s foreign minister announced a temporary cease‑fire, prompting a brief dip in oil prices. Within hours, Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels fired on ships and re‑imposed strict controls, turning the perceived...
The Price of War
The Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that moves roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil, has been effectively shut after Israel’s heavy strikes on Lebanon and U.S. sanctions on non‑Iranian tankers. The closure coincides with a fragile cease‑fire and a U.S....
Rotterdam Bunker Volumes Fall as Fossil Fuels Drive Decline
Bunker sales at the Port of Rotterdam fell about 25% in Q1 2026 versus the same period a year earlier, driven primarily by a sharp drop in fossil fuel deliveries. Very‑low‑sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) plunged 44%, while high‑sulphur fuel oil (HSFO)...
Some Key Notes on the Strait of Hormuz Standoff
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) re‑closed the Strait of Hormuz, overriding the civilian government’s position. The post highlights Iran’s fragmented power structure—an ayatollah, a civilian administration, and a semi‑autonomous IRGC—making coherent policy difficult. It argues that the U.S. Navy’s...
Leaked Supreme Court Memos Reveal Why Court Stayed Clean Power Plan (Setting Important "Shadow Docket" Precedent in the Process)
Leaked internal Supreme Court memos reveal why the justices granted a stay of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, citing fears of billions in irreversible utility compliance costs and the need for robust judicial review. The chief justice and conservative...
MB Energy Secures Permit for Ammonia Import Terminal in Hamburg
MB Energy received a permit to build and operate an ammonia import terminal at the Blumensand tank site in the Port of Hamburg, creating Germany’s first large‑scale ammonia hub. The facility is planned to handle up to 600,000 metric tonnes...
High Oil Prices, Explained by an Expert
Gasbuddy’s petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan explains the surge in U.S. gasoline prices, citing tighter refinery margins, geopolitical supply constraints, and lingering pandemic demand rebounds. He argues that President Trump’s rhetoric oversimplifies the market, ignoring the complex interplay of crude costs,...
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, placing the waterway under strict military management. The move follows Tehran’s accusation that the United States continues to restrict Iranian ports and impede freedom of navigation....
Alarm Flooding During Power Restoration
When power returns to a plant, SCADA and DCS systems often experience an abrupt surge of alarms as field devices, controllers and communication networks restart simultaneously. Abnormal startup values, network reconnection delays, and unfiltered alarm configurations cause hundreds of alerts...
Strait Flush
The post outlines a tentative Iran‑U.S. deal that keeps the Strait of Hormuz open, commits Tehran to never close it again, and sets up joint collection of enriched uranium. It also notes a 10‑day extension of a controversial U.S. surveillance...
Canada Opens First Commercial Lithium Refinery – by Staff (Canadian Mining Journal – April 16, 2026)
Canada inaugurated North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium‑refining plant in Delta, British Columbia, with Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight and Mangrove Lithium executives. The facility marks a pivotal step toward a domestic battery‑material supply chain, reducing reliance on overseas processors....
InvestingLive Americas Market News Wrap: Iran Says Hormuz Is Open, Oil Plunges
Iran’s foreign minister declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open, prompting a $10‑per‑barrel drop in oil prices and a brief rally in equities, with the Nasdaq posting its 13th straight session of gains. The U.S. dollar initially sold off, the...
Charging Batteries For Long Life and Peak Efficiency
The article outlines how upgrading a boat’s charging system can dramatically extend battery life and improve efficiency, covering both lithium and lead‑acid technologies. It argues that fixing the charging source is the cheapest, most effective upgrade, often eliminating the need...
Daily Energy Report
Oil prices plunged more than 10% on April 17, 2026 after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was fully open for commercial shipping, sending Brent crude down $13 per barrel. The announcement, reinforced by President Trump’s remarks, sparked a rally...
Funding Friday: Stretching the Limits of Climate Tech
This week’s climate‑tech funding roundup featured a $139 million Series A for quantum‑AI startup Sygaldry, a $29 million raise by NanoTech Materials to scale heat‑resistant, reflective coatings, and a $26 million round for Critical Loop’s modular microgrid systems. The U.S. Department of Energy added...
Friday Afternoon News Updates: Trump Surrenders and Declares Victory — 4/17/26
The latest MeidasTouch briefing reports that President Trump has transferred operational control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, while Tehran imposes IRGC‑approved lanes and tolls for passage. Washington is reportedly negotiating a $20 billion cash incentive to secure a voluntary...
Korean Tanker Transits Alternative Red Sea Route For First Time
South Korea successfully sent a Korean‑flagged oil tanker through the Red Sea, marking the first such transit since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed after Iran’s retaliation to U.S.-Israeli strikes. The move is part of Seoul’s broader strategy to...
Is Hormuz Strait Open? A Short Comment for Traders and Investors
Traders are closely watching the Strait of Hormuz after recent satellite data confirmed that the main shipping lane remains fully operational. Kpler’s April 17 2026 analysis shows no significant vessel congestion or closures, despite regional geopolitical tensions. The report highlights that oil...
California’s Gas System Is Crumbling. SB 1359 Charts a Path to a Clean Energy Future.
California’s aging natural‑gas network is draining over $10 billion of ratepayer funds each year, prompting lawmakers to act. Senate Bill 1359, introduced by Sen. Henry Stern, directs the CPUC to align gas system planning, ratemaking, and capital investments with the state’s...
An Ultrathin Solid Electrolyte Keeps Lithium Metal Batteries From Catching Fire
Researchers have created a 20‑µm composite solid electrolyte that embeds trimethyl phosphate inside a copper‑based MOF cage, releasing the flame‑retardant only above 120 °C. The ultrathin electrolyte delivers ionic conductance 880‑times higher than conventional PEO membranes while raising the lithium‑ion transference...
What Trump Doesn’t Understand About Oil and Gas: It Ain’t No Dimmer Switch
Senior Trump administration officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, met with CEOs of ExxonMobil, Chevron and other major producers to demand a rapid increase in U.S. oil output after the Iran‑linked Strait of Hormuz disruption...
Reopened Week in Review
Iran’s foreign minister announced the Strait of Hormuz fully open for the remainder of the Lebanon cease‑fire, prompting Brent crude to tumble below $80 a barrel. The drop in oil prices coincides with a 3.6% decline in existing‑home sales in...
⛽ Iran’s Smartest Move Yet Wasn’t Closing Hormuz — It Was Reopening It. Let Me Explain.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz immediately after a temporary cease‑fire between Israel and Lebanon, linking the maritime opening directly to the cease‑fire terms. The narrow waterway carries roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and LNG, making its status a...
World’s Largest Electric Container Ship — 10 Questions That Actually Matter
China has launched the Ningyuan Diankun, a 10,000‑ton all‑electric intelligent container ship, marking the world’s largest vessel of its kind to enter commercial service. The ship runs solely on battery power, eliminating diesel engines and delivering substantial emissions reductions. It...
Headlines: April 2026
April 2026 saw a wave of European and UK energy policy moves aimed at taming soaring power costs and integrating more renewables. Britain will pay households and factories to shift electricity use to off‑peak periods, while the EU plans tax...
The Nation’s Biggest Renewables Project Ever Comes Online
The SunZia Wind project, the largest renewable build in U.S. history, has begun testing its 916 turbines and is on track to deliver 3.5 GW of wind power plus 550 miles of transmission to California. Early output has already helped California break...
5 Big Energy Stories - 4.17.2026: The Necessary Conditions
U.S. oil production now exceeds the combined output of Saudi Arabia and Russia, while its natural‑gas output surpasses that of Russia, Iran and China. Both oil and LNG exports are climbing as the Middle‑East crisis tightens global supply, and Venezuela...
THE URANIUM PARADIGM SHIFT: Structural Deficits, the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust, the Coming Utility Panic, the Supply Illusion, Sovereign Hoarding,...
The uranium market has entered a structural deficit as the long‑standing secondary supply illusion finally collapsed. The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust has begun selling into the spot market, wiping out remaining inventory and pushing spot prices toward $85 per pound....
DMEGC Solar Launches Enhanced Greenhouse Module Range with G12RT Cell Technology
DMEGC Solar, a Tier 1 solar module maker, unveiled its new Greenhouse module line built on G12RT cell technology, replacing the earlier M10RT platform. The G12RT series delivers a wide transparency range of 2 % to 50 %, letting growers balance crop lighting...
Seres Joins BMW, Mercedes in China Premium Charging Joint Venture
Seres Group has taken a 33.3% equity stake in Ionchi, the premium high‑power charging joint venture previously owned equally by BMW and Mercedes‑Benz in China. The three‑way partnership will accelerate the rollout of ultra‑fast public chargers, aiming for at least...
Copper, Cobalt and Kilowatts: The Energy Equation Shaping the Copperbelt
Energy costs are reshaping mining competitiveness in Zambia and the DRC as diesel‑generated power, once a reliable backup, now costs $0.15‑$0.50 per kWh due to volatile oil prices and logistics. Solar‑battery hybrid systems can supply electricity for $0.06‑$0.20 per kWh,...